Nigeria records 1,035 Lassa fever, 380 meningitis cases – NCDC

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As of October 13, 2024, Nigeria has recorded 1,035 confirmed cases of Lassa fever from 8,569 suspected cases, resulting in 174 deaths across 28 states and 129 local government areas.

In addition, the country faces a significant burden of cerebrospinal meningitis (CSM) with 380 confirmed cases from 4,915 suspected, leading to 361 deaths in 24 states and 174 local government areas during the 2023/2024 season.

Dr. Jide Idris, Director-General of the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC), shared these updates during a Tuesday press briefing in Abuja, explaining that efforts led by the Federal Government and NCDC are aimed at preventing, detecting, and responding to these cases.

Dr. Idris highlighted that Lassa fever, a viral hemorrhagic illness, is transmitted by rodents, primarily the multimammate rat.

“We have continued to see a steady increase in the number of states reporting Lassa fever cases. This rise is due, in part, to improved surveillance, better community awareness, environmental degradation from climate change, and other harmful human activities,” he explained.

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He noted that in 2023 alone, 1,270 cases were confirmed with 227 deaths, while this year, 1,035 cases and 174 deaths have been recorded so far.

Dr. Idris emphasized the economic toll of Lassa fever on affected communities, explaining, “The disease also leads to significant loss of livelihood in the communities it affects. Heads of households are unable to work when exposed to Lassa fever, and when other household members are infected, the cost of care and treatment, which is often significant, strains existing household income, pushing families toward poverty in a swift turn of events.”

On cerebrospinal meningitis, Dr. Idris noted that the disease remains epidemic-prone in Nigeria, with outbreaks typically heightened by dry season conditions.

“The highest burden of CSM in Nigeria occurs in the ‘Meningitis Belt,’ which includes all 19 states in the northern region, the Federal Capital Territory, and some southern states such as Bayelsa, Cross River, Delta, Ekiti, Ogun, Ondo, and Osun.”

During the 2023/2024 season, Nigeria has administered over 2 million doses of Men5CV-ACWYX vaccine in high-risk areas, covering 134 wards in Bauchi, Gombe, Jigawa, and Yobe to protect the 1-29 age group.

Despite these efforts, Dr. Idris underscored that CSM “remains a priority disease and an ever-present public health threat in Nigeria, with annual outbreaks in high-burden states presenting a challenge for people, health systems, economies, and communities.”

He urged citizens to get vaccinated against meningitis, avoid close contact with confirmed cases, and reduce overcrowding in communal settings like school dormitories and IDP camps.

He also called on healthcare workers to maintain strict infection prevention protocols, stay alert for signs of CSM, and report any suspected cases for prompt intervention.